Three factors help decide the requirement for a brake pad replacement on Waldorf, MD cars: are they hard or soft brake pads, what is the daily driving environment, and what are the driver’s braking habits? At Wiygul Automotive Clinics, we use regular brake inspections to determine not just pad replacement, but to examine the calipers, rotors, and other brake components for excess wear and reduced performance.
Material composition and vehicle type define if a brake pad is hard or soft. High-performance vehicles like sports cars need hard brake pads. Designed for high-speed use and constructed from carbon-ceramics, they only reach peak performance once they have time to heat up. The slight delay requires drivers to be more cautious after they get behind the wheel initially. Carbon-ceramic brake pads cost more than soft brake pads, but they also have a longer lifespan.
Most cars, like mini-vans, sedans, and SUVs, on Maryland streets and highways, fall into the standard performance category. These automobiles operate at lower speeds and require brake pads designed for that. These soft pads use steel or other metal compounds in their construction which gives them a shorter lifespan, but they are much cheaper and perform very well on any road surface and under most weather conditions.
Lifespan can be reduced significantly by the daily environment. Urban driving requires more frequent braking due to road congestion and the stop-and-go traffic it generates. Traveling on steep elevations in nearby mountainous or hilly regions has much the same effect. Drivers must use frequent and continuous braking to control their descent speed while moving downhill. Both environments wear down brakes at a faster rate. Frequent braking is unusual in rural areas close to Waldorf, MD. Brake pad replacement for drivers traveling these flat, less occupied roads is far less needed.
That makes braking habits the factor drivers can control to reduce brake pad replacement. Car owners who keep a foot constantly on the brake wear down the pads rapidly. Excessive wear also happens with owners who wait until the last moment and use a fast, heavy step on their brakes to stop suddenly. In a vehicle with soft pads, the heat build-up from either poor habit can melt small amounts of metal from the pad surface which drips onto the brake rotors, causing poor performance. Conversely, drivers who brake early with a light, firm touch and coast to a gentle stop can greatly extend the lifespan of their pads and other brake components.
50,000 miles is the average lifespan of brake pads. Poor braking can cut that in half to 25,000 miles. Precise braking can add as much as 20,000 miles to the lifespan, saving hundreds of dollars. To help extend the lifespan of your brake pads and reduce the cost of brake pad replacement for your Waldorf, MD auto, Wiygul Automotive recommends a thorough examination each time you change your oil.
We also provide a free, annual brake inspection for each of our customers. The task is a part of our family’s 60-year tradition of providing excellent customer service started by our founder, James Wiygul. To schedule this or any other service, call us today at 866-702-8050 drop in at the Wiygul Automotive Clinic nearest you.
